Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or after nine-year wait

Harry Kane stood near the exit of the London Palladium in 2017, watching Cristiano Ronaldo accept the Best FIFA Football Award. At the time, Kane finished 24th in the voting for the men's top prize. On Monday, he returned to the same West End venue to accept the 2026 Ballon d'Or, ending a nine-year wait for the English striker.

The ceremony began 45 minutes late with no official explanation provided. The delay followed a brief website error where official profiles for Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal were published as the winner before being removed. Rain had cleared earlier in the day, but the technical mix-up added tension to the proceedings in a city notorious for traffic.

Kane secured the Gerd Muller Men's Award, also known as the Striker of the Year, on the undercard before receiving the main honor. That secondary award is based solely on goal tallies rather than voting. Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches during the voting period, which covered August 2025 through the end of the World Cup in July.

His performance at Bayern Munich has been defined by volume and consistency. Since joining the club in 2023 for 120 million euros, Kane has recorded 158 goals in 156 matches. During the Ballon d'Or voting window, he won the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the German Supercup. He also led England to a third-place finish at the FIFA World Cup, their best result in 60 years, while scoring six goals in the tournament.

Kane is the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Only five British players have ever claimed the award, with the rest of the trophies going to Spanish and French stars. Manchester United holds the record for the most wins by an English club, with four. Kane's victory marks the first English triumph in over two decades, despite the global reach of the Premier League.

After taking the stage, Kane thanked his former club. "I wouldn't be where I am without you," he said to Tottenham Hotspur. He described the wait as stressful for himself and his family. "I am almost speechless," he added. "Being here in London has made it extra special."

Kane previously described his ambition to be considered alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In a 2020 interview, he stated, "I want to be Ronaldo, Messi.." He broke Wayne Rooney's all-time goal-scoring record for England and is on pace to surpass Peter Shilton's appearance record of 125 caps next month.